Wash day doesn't have to be a tiring process. In fact, there's something peaceful and relaxing about a good old scalp massage and getting out those pesky knots.
We've curated easy-to-follow tips for smooth sailing on your wash day.
1. Pre-shampoo care
Before applying shampoo to wash your hair, moisten it with a hair mask to remove knots and tangles. Our hair is always thirsty for moisture, and using a hair mask prevents the hair from drying out further.
Use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to detangle your hair, so that you minimise manipulation. Rinse it out and move on to shampoo and conditioner.
2. Divide and conquer
At this point of the haircare routine, your hair feels nourished and smooth. Divide your hair into four sections and apply a few pumps of shampoo to cleanse your scalp, removing dirt and stimulating blood flow.
Remember to be gentle with your scalp and use cool water (not hot), then follow up with a conditioner. Rinse out and dry your hair using a microfibre towel. An old T-shirt also works fine; just squeeze out the excess water.
Reducing heat damage leaves your hair stronger. Remember that even if you are air-drying, you still need to squeeze out all the excess water.
3. Treatment is key
Masking again? Absolutely, especially if you have low porosity hair. Slather on your deep-conditioning treatment and cover with a shower cap for 10 to 15 minutes.
The treatment strengthens your hair, keeps it hydrated, and reduces damage. If you like applying oil to dry hair, you can add it to the ends and edges at this step, allowing it to penetrate and protect.
4. Moisture, moisture, moisture!
Your hair is now clean and it's time for the most important step, which is moisturising. Use the LOC method to prevent breakage.
Liquid: Apply a leave-in, water-based conditioner from root to tip. This will add the needed moisture to your hair. Don’t be stingy with the product — slather it on.
Oil: Seal in the moisture with a thin layer of hair oil. Choose an oil based on your hair porosity. If you have high-porosity hair, go for olive and castor oils, and if you have low-porosity hair, go for argan and avocado oils. You can mix your favourite oils to create a nice blend or use them individually.
Cream: Layer on a creamy or butter-based moisturiser for the final step. Your hair should be hydrated, defined in texture, and definitely poppin’.
